Abstract
Enamel hypoplasia and stunted stature are non-specific indicators of stress that are often caused by nutritional stress and exposure to disease in adolescence. While many studies have assessed the relationship between stature and hypoplasia in children, few have looked at this relationship in adults. This research examined the relationship between enamel hypoplasia and stature in two historic London populations to determine whether individuals with enamel hypoplasias in their permanent dentition also exhibited shorter than average stature; testing whether the presence of childhood stressors resulting in dental lesions also gave rise to stunted growth or if individuals were able to experience catchup growth later in adolescence. Data from the medieval East Smithfield Black Death cemetery and the post-medieval St. Bride’s Lower Churchyard cemetery were included in this study. Average femur lengths between individuals with enamel hypoplasias and those without hypoplasias were compared using a two-way ANOVA. Results showed a significant association in both samples between presence of enamel hypoplasia and femur length in males, suggesting that male children who developed hypoplasias were unable to experience catchup growth later in their development. The association did not differ between samples, indicating no temporal change in the relationship. Significant sex-specific differences in association between hypoplasia and femur length were found in both samples. Examination of the distribution suggests the association was stronger in males than in females, a possible indication of superior female buffering in these samples. These results indicate that enamel hypoplasias are a good indicator of frailty in the medieval population and may have sex-specific effects on adult stature.